In this study, Chaetomium subaffine, Clonostachys sp., and Pseudogymnoascus sp., which were isolated from tomato tissues, were identified as potential candidates for biological control of the late blight pathogen, Phytophthora infestans. For this, an integrated approach was pursued that combines culture- dependent characterisation with microbiome analyses and assesses the results in context to the tomato plant health. Our strategic approach enhances the likelihood of identifying fungal candidates with both strong biocontrol potential and commercial viability via both in vitro and ad planta tests. These findings improve our knowledge of the link between fungal biological control agents and plant microbiome, providing valuable ecological data in identifying effective antagonists suited for sustainable control of P. infestans.
Link to the publication: https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0335007
